Tuesday 3 August 2010

The Royal Departure

Today Ken and Sandra have begun heading back downstream towards Denver Sluice on their way 'home' to Shobnall.  According to our calculations they have got a journey ahead of them consisting of 206 miles and 100 locks!  Easy Peasy!!  We have really enjoyed their company and I have been thoroughly spoilt having Sunday dinners cooked for me by the Floating Boating Chef!  Back to cooking my own now!  Have a safe journey you two and .......... keep out of trouble!  We will miss you.


Yesterday was Market Day in St Ives - now that's what I call a market.  It is very traditional and seemed to have a bit of everything - we came back pretty laden with what we considered to be bargains anyway!  We also discovered a Fair Trade shop with lots of lovely handmade crafty things in it - nice to look at.


Our friends Rosa, Richard and youngest daughter, Beth were coming back from Sheffield so they took a detour and came to find us for lunch.  It was really good to see them - perhaps next time they can stay overnight?


John and I have also left St Ives today and are now moored on an island by Houghton Mill.  We have noticed how much busier the river has become - people are now out for their holidays on masse.  No more having the locks to ourselves and first choice of moorings!  The village of Houghton is a gem - again, very pretty.  There is a thatched clock tower in the village square -


There are also two really nice-looking pubs.  This one particularly caught my attention.  I have lived my entire life thinking that ONE was more than enough!!!!


For those of you who might not know:-
"The Jolly Butcher" pub in Staines has patronised the Blake males for at least three generations, possibly four.
We are now going to make our way slowly to Bedford.

No comments:

Post a Comment